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Resolution 1867 (2012) Final version
The situation of the Greek citizens of Turkish descent in Rhodes and Kos
1. The Parliamentary Assembly notes
that the inhabitants of Rhodes and Kos with a Turkish cultural background
are generally well integrated into the multicultural societies of
the two islands. They are proud to be fully fledged Greek citizens
and to participate in the economic development of the islands.
2. The Assembly commends the Greek Government for its genuine
commitment to maintaining and developing the two islands’ cosmopolitan
character, in particular by protecting their historical monuments without
discrimination. The islands’ multiculturalism is the fruit of their
rich history, which includes four centuries of generally tolerant
Ottoman Turkish rule.
3. The good level of understanding between the majority population
and the different minority groups, including those with a Turkish
cultural background, is an important asset for the economic development
of the two islands, and in particular for their attractiveness for
tourism, their main source of revenue.
4. The Assembly notes that supporting the Turkish language, heritage
and culture, and promoting a better awareness of them, would benefit
not only the inhabitants with a Turkish cultural background, but
also their neighbours with Greek or other cultural backgrounds,
given the proximity of these islands to major tourist areas on the
Turkish coast and the still largely untapped potential for regional
co-operation in the field of tourism and commerce.
5. It therefore welcomes the readiness expressed by the Greek
authorities to facilitate, upon the parents’ request, afternoon
classes in Turkish language and culture taught by qualified teachers,
under the supervision of the island’s authorities and the Ministry
of Education with the involvement of and funding (if necessary)
by Turkish-speaking citizens. Moreover, the Greek authorities are
invited to consider reopening Turkish language community schools.
6. Three other issues require the authorities’ attention: the
apparent lack of transparency and accountability in the administration
of the Muslim religious foundations (wakfs), the unclear status
of the Muslim religious leadership on the two islands and the restoration
of monuments of the rich Muslim Ottoman heritage, which is an integral
part of the islands’ heritage.
7. The Assembly therefore invites the Greek authorities to:
7.1. conduct an information campaign
among parents of all schoolchildren on the two islands to inform them
of the possibility of offering classes in the Turkish language organised
by the educational authorities in consultation with Turkish-speaking
citizens;
7.2. ensure full transparency and accountability regarding
the administration of the two public Muslim wakfs in Rhodes and
Kos, which are legal persons of public law both before the Greek
State and before the members of the local Muslim communities, including
by renewing, in an open and transparent way, their councils by elections
at regular intervals and securing to every member of the said communities
the right to have full access to their public accounts;
7.3. ensure that the Muslim citizens in Rhodes and Kos are
free to choose their religious preachers and leaders, whose rights
and duties should be clarified;
7.4. continue the restoration program of Islamic and Ottoman
monuments, which are an integral part of the cultural heritage of
the two islands, in co-operation with Muslim associations and with
all necessary respect for the integrity of the historic monuments;
7.5. intensify their dialogue with the representatives of the
islands’ Greek citizens of Turkish descent, in order to resolve
the above, and any other, issues of concern (namely, property rights
and citizenship problems) in the spirit of mutual respect and understanding
that characterises the unique cosmopolitan nature of the islands
of Rhodes and Kos.
8. The Assembly reiterates its invitation to the Greek authorities
to ratify the Framework Convention for the Protection of National
Minorities (ETS No. 157).